There’s a story I love from the 1980s about a small shopping center just outside Dallas.

It had everything going for it — great stores, a great location, plenty of parking. But no customers.

The owners were desperate. They tried consultants, bought radio ads, rented billboards. Nothing worked. The place stayed empty.

Then one day, a retired marketing professor stopped by. He walked around for a few minutes, looked at the parking lot, and said,
“That’s your problem.”

The owner frowned. “The parking lot? It’s spotless.”

The professor nodded. “Exactly. It’s too spotless. Too empty. People drive by, see no cars, and assume nothing’s happening here.”

Then he gave them one small, strange idea:
“Hire ten people to park their cars out front.”

That was it. No new signs. No discounts. No fancy campaigns. Just a few parked cars.

A week later, foot traffic started to pick up.
A month later, sales doubled.

All because a few empty spaces weren’t empty anymore.

Here’s the magic behind it: people trust what looks popular.
When we see a crowd — a busy restaurant, a full parking lot, a long line — we assume it’s good.
Our brains think, “If everyone’s there, I should be too.”

That’s what the professor understood.
It’s not just a parking lot trick — it’s how humans work.

That’s why restaurants seat people near the windows.
It’s why nightclubs keep a line outside.
It’s why creators share screenshots of testimonials.

We don’t just buy with logic — we buy with proof.
We want to see that something’s worth our time.

So here’s the truth: visibility creates credibility.
People believe what they can see — whether it’s cars in a lot, names on a waitlist, or hearts on a post.

Before you ask for more customers, ask yourself:
Does it look like something people want to be part of?

Because in marketing, momentum is contagious.
If your business looks alive, people will want in.
And sometimes, all it takes to start that momentum…
is a few cars in the right place.